The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA) isn't just another trophy ceremony. It is the industry's most stringent vetting process; a rigorous evaluation where 31 expert judges, from insurance carriers to safety veterans, scrutinize the nation's top programs.
The CSEA acknowledges construction companies that demonstrate exceptional safety and health performance. Each candidate is evaluated on their commitment to safety, the effectiveness of their occupational health management, and risk control measures. The program provides a platform for companies to showcase their dedication to creating safe work environments.
Out of 130 applicants from across the nation, 21 HCSS customers advanced to the final stage. These awards proved that while a good handbook gets you in the door, it's what happens when "the work gets messy" that puts you on the podium.
Here is the 2026 roadmap for safety excellence, as defined by this year's elite performers.
1. Safety is No Longer an "Office" Function
The most common mistake in safety planning is treating it as a policy to be audited rather than a culture to be lived. The CSEA judges shifted focus away from paper trails and toward Management Ownership.
Top performers showed that safety isn't just the Safety Director's job, especially during the current industry-wide personnel shortage. The winning companies are those that:
- Equip Field Leaders: They stop treating foremen like administrative bottlenecks and give them the tools to own their own inspections.
- Bridge the Gap with AI: Innovation was a massive theme this year. Winners are using AI to support their safety staff, using software to "supervise" data trends and automate Job Safety Analyses (JSAs).
2. Turning Workers into Active Participants
The judges responded favorably to companies that decentralized their safety programs. This is where HCSS customers like Kwest Group, LLC, Hamilton Construction Co., and Clarkson Construction Company truly shone.
By pushing safety observations directly to crews, these companies did something revolutionary: they turned every worker into a safety officer. When a frontline worker can report a potential hazard in seconds, they stop "checking a box" and start taking true responsibility for their teammates.
3. Innovation is Scalable
One of the most inspiring takeaways from the 2026 awards was that "Innovation" isn't just for the billion-dollar firms.
- The "Small Biz" Win: Smaller companies were praised for simply digitizing their paper forms. Moving from a clipboard to a digital tablet is a major leap in data accuracy and risk identification.
- The Accountability Loop: Winning teams proved that problems aren't just written down; they are assigned, tracked, and closed. Software ensures that no hazard is "forgotten" in a pile of paperwork.
The Elite Tier: 2026 CSEA Winners
A massive congratulations to our HCSS customers and all the winners who proved that safety makes sense—not just for the people, but for the success of the project. We are especially proud of our HeavyJob Safety customers who are standardizing their safety programs and making it easy for crews to embrace a strong safety culture.
By utilizing clear meeting templates, submitting observations and JHAs, and documenting near misses and incidents as they arise, these teams ensure that every project is built on a foundation of excellence and accountability.
GRAND AWARD WINNER
- Sundt Construction, Inc. (Tempe, AZ) Heavy Division, Over 1 Million Work Hours
DIVISION: HEAVY
Under 300,000 Work Hours
- 1st Place: J. Banicki Construction (Phoenix, AZ)
- 2nd Place: Perry Engineering Co., Inc. (Winchester, VA)
- 3rd Place: HIS Constructors (Fairland, IN)
300,000 to 1 Million Work Hours
- 1st Place: Kwest Group, LLC (Perrysburg, OH)
- 2nd Place: McLean Contracting Company (Glen Burnie, MD)
- 3rd Place: Mountain States Constructors Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)
Over 1 Million Work Hours
- 1st Place: Sundt Construction, Inc. (Tempe, AZ)
- 2nd Place: Granite Construction Company (Watsonville, CA)
- 3rd Place: Teichert Construction (Sacramento, CA)
DIVISION: HIGHWAY & TRANSPORTATION
Under 450,000 Work Hours
- 1st Place: Hamilton Construction Co. (Springfield, OR)
- 2nd Place: Hazard Construction (Lakeside, CA)
- 3rd Place: Mass Excavation, Inc. (Anchorage, AK)
450,000 to 650,000 Work Hours
- 1st Place: Clarkson Construction Company (Kansas City, MO)
- 2nd Place: Curran Contracting Company (Crystal Lake, IL)
- 3rd Place: Bell & Associates Construction, LLC (Brentwood, TN)
Over 1 Million Work Hours
- 1st Place: Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Co. (Draper, UT)
- 2nd Place: Fay, S&B USA Construction (Pittsburgh, PA)
- 3rd Place: Herzog Contracting Corp. (Saint Joseph, MO)
DIVISION: UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE
Under 500,000 Work Hours
- 1st Place: Langston Construction Co. of Piedmont, LLC (Piedmont, SC)
- 2nd Place: Pacific Excavation Inc. (Eugene, OR)
Over 500,000 Work Hours
- 1st Place: Petillo Companies (Flanders, NJ)
- 2nd Place: Barnard Construction Company, Inc. (Bozeman, MT)
- 3rd Place: Grace Industries LLC / Haugland Group (Melville, NY)
It takes courage to be judged by others. For those who applied and those who won, thank you for doing your best to push the envelope for caring for the people who build this country.
